30,000 'still need' MMR vaccine

Measles epidemic in Swansea 'is over'

One person died in the measles outbreak but health chiefs say the epidemic is over. Credit: PA

The measles outbreak centred on the Swansea area has been declared over eight months after it began.

Public Health Wales has announced that there have been no laboratory confirmed measles cases linked to the outbreak area since 22 May, indicating that the outbreak is now over.

The outbreak began in November 2012 and resulted in 1,219 cases, 88 people visited a hospital due to measles during the outbreak and one person died.

Efforts to bring the outbreak to an end have seen 75,868 unscheduled MMR vaccinations given at GP surgeries, weekend drop-in sessions and schools and occupational health vaccination sessions in Wales during the outbreak period.

But Public Health Wales is warning that there are still around 30,000 unvaccinated children in the 10 to 18 age group across Wales, and that there is still a possibility of a further outbreak in the future.